PROJECT CHETNA LAUNCHES MILAAP SETU

AI for Good: Milaap Setu, Part of Project Chetna, Pilot Launch at SMIT Shelter for Senior Citizens, Thane 

 — Project Chetna, under the banner of Milaap Setu, today unveiled its pilot launch at the SMIT Shelter for Senior Citizens in Thane. The initiative harnesses advanced AI face-recognition technology to reunite missing and displaced elderly persons—particularly those with dementia—with their families. 

— Over 100,000 people go missing every year in India, many of whom are elderly and forced into shelters. 

— Approximately 8.8 million Indians aged 60+ currently live with dementia, making identification and reunification especially urgent. 

— Registered elderly shelters are operating at full capacity, with limited resources to track and reconnect residents with loved ones. 

As a core component of Project Chetna, this pilot program provides: 

1. Simple registration: Shelters upload clear photographs and minimal details of missing elderly residents via a free, centralized portal. 

2. Instant search capability: Families or caregivers can upload photos of their missing relatives; the integrated AI-powered facial recognition engine then scans the national shelter database for matches. 

By streamlining complex manual processes, this platform aims to build India’s first unified AI-driven database of missing individuals, enabling faster and more accurate reunifications. 

— Accelerates reunions, reducing time, costs, and emotional distress compared to traditional searches. 

— Exemplifies AI for social good, beyond commercial value—bringing dignity, closure, and hope to countless families. 

"While AI is enabling billion-dollar revenues in business, we are driving AI for good in our society. Milaap Setu is an AI bridge to reunite missing people with their loved ones through face recognition.” — Akshay Ridlan, Founder of Milaap Setu, an initiative of projectchetna.in 

Call to Action 

— Shelters: All registered facilities nationwide are urged to join the Milaap Setu portal—zero setup fees, user-friendly registration. 

— Families: If you are searching for a missing elderly loved one, upload their photograph to our national database. 

— Partners: NGOs, tech firms, government bodies, and care networks are invited to collaborate, scale, and strengthen this vital mission. 

About Project Chetna

A humanitarian initiative rooted in compassion and powered by innovation; Project Chetna (Milaap Setu) integrates QR-code wearable pendants and AI-enabled face recognition to efficiently identify and reunite individuals affected by memory impairment. Learn more at [projectchetna.in](http://projectchetna.in).